The former President of the Republic and Honorary Professor of the Faculty of Law of the National University of Kapodistrias in Athens has spoken about the need to impose sanctions against Turkey for the occupation of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, contrary to all concepts of international and European law, for almost 50 years. Prokopios Pavlopoulos, who spoke at events organized by the municipality Thermo Etoloakarnania in honor of the memory of Agios Cosmas of Etloss, with the theme “Testament” of Christian teaching to European culture. “Evidence” of the teachings of St. Cosmas of Aetloss.

Mr. Pavlopoulos pointed out, among other things, the following: “As it is now commonly believed, the third pillar of European culture arose historically as a Christian doctrine, of course, in the context of the general cultural contribution of Byzantium. This follows even from the Primary European Law itself, if we take into account that in the preamble of the Treaty on European Union – and in fact at its “top” – it is determined with all the ensuing consequences, even purely institutional ones, that the heads of member states signed it, “inspired cultural, religious and humanitarian heritage of Europe…”. In other words, according to the text above, Europe’s cultural and humanitarian heritage is on the same level as its religious heritage. Which is nothing but Christian teaching. In addition, the Christian doctrine, as the third pillar of European culture, is inextricably linked with the other two, ancient Greek and ancient Roman. This connection is expressed expressively, of course, by the way, by a two-way connection between them.

The former President of the Republic continued: “The relationship, which is documented historically and almost indisputably, is in the fact that Christianity and its teachings, very characteristic of the course of European civilization, could arise, for the most part, because they found a double suitable “ground”: firstly, the “soil” of the territory originally Roman, and then its “descendant” of the Byzantine Empire, as well as their institutional heritage, since this facilitated the organization and activities of the Christian church, mainly at its beginning, and, obviously, contributed to the first appearance of the “ordinary law.” And, secondly, the “territory” of the Greek and Latin languages, considering that through these languages ​​the Christian Doctrine was spread and the function of the Christian Church was formulated. But, on the other hand, they were also “transportable materials” of the extremely “floating” intellectually “river” of the Christian Teaching, which “fertilized” the cultural deposits of the pillars of the ancient Greek Spirit and the institutional heritage of Ancient Rome, and, consequently, of the entire European civilization, adding to it, in in particular, the following principles, which existed in the bud, but which later constituted – and still always constitute – the “nuclear” elements of its existence:

• Firstly, Humanism, as a principle that is the real basis of social coexistence in general and “anticipates” by its nature mainly the principles of Solidarity and Justice. In the context of European Civilization, Humanism, with elements added to it by the Christian Teaching, consists in the fact that Man, as an independent person with his own value, is at the center of the organization and fate of each specific social group, as well as of all mankind .. In the field of European culture, this The “Society of Persons” determines, under the direct influence and related principles of Christian teaching, the main components of the goals of the modern “Society of Citizens”. Bearing in mind that the latter, outside the limits of “political society” – and therefore state intervention and any kind of state “protectionism” – obliges each of its members to take care of others, primarily in the context of protecting fundamental human rights through social solidarity. Under these conditions, “Civil Society” can contribute, in essence, to the effective implementation – in many cases constitutionally enshrined, as is the case in our current Constitution (Article 25, part 1) – the principle of the triple operation of these Rights. In other words, their unimpeded implementation by one’s body is not only against state arbitrariness, but also against the arbitrariness of members of “civil society” who have the highest, especially economic, power.
• Secondly, Solidarity, as a principle that establishes the basic “cohesive bond” between members of a social group and, therefore, guarantees the cohesion of social coexistence, that is, social cohesion in all its aspects. According to the Christian Doctrine, the “Society of Personalities” becomes possible as an essential evolution of simple social coexistence, mainly through the Gospel and patristic Doctrine of Solidarity, which plays the role of a link between members of a social group. Even in accordance with the practice of the Court of Justice of the European Union, Solidarity is, on the one hand, a general principle established in all the preambles of successive European treaties, starting with the Treaty on the European Coal and Steel Community of 1951, which included the principle of Solidarity in the form in which it was formulated by one of the “fathers” of European construction Robert Schumann in his Declaration of 1950. And, on the other hand, the subject of special legal regulation of many provisions – there are more than fifteen of them – the law of the European Union treaties, namely the applicable fundamental European law.
• Thirdly, the World as a principle that guarantees in favor of the “Society of Personalities” – and therefore in favor of the social whole – harmonious coexistence, necessary for productive social co-creation. According to the Christian Doctrine, the implementation of the requirements of Humanism and Solidarity in their above sense presupposes, without exception, Peace, not only as a primary aspiration, but also as a voluntary attitude towards life. And the World, according to its aforementioned Christian origin and its “shades”, is an integral part of European Culture in general. First of all, this follows from the very reason for the creation of the European Union, according to the system of values ​​adopted by its founders: first the European Communities, and then the European Union were created as a leading and symbolic reaction of the states of Europe after the Second World War, “split” – for the second time in the XX century – Peace and “saturated” with nightmares, which Mankind has never known in its historical past. The correctness of the above conclusions is confirmed by this “Preamble” of the Treaty on the European Union: “Recalling the historical importance of ending the division of the European continent and the need to create a solid foundation for the future construction of Europe …”. In addition, the strengthening of peace is the main goal of the European Union and pushes him to his ultimate goal – European unification – and to the fulfillment of his mission in relation to his member states, as well as to the fulfillment of the planetary role that depends.In particular, the European Union, according to basic European as well as international law, is obliged to guarantee peaceful coexistence of its member states, since without this condition it would legally lead to disintegration, as well as assurance in the World in the relations of its member states with third states, which, perhaps, is what is visible to the “naked eye” today, at least least for Greece and Cyprus in the face of Turkey – their neighbors may threaten, third countries in relation to the European Union, states. And this is because, self-evidently and self-deprecatingly, every threat to a Member State – a fortiori every attack – is a threat and an attack on the European Union itself. This does not make it even more timely to emphasize the importance of the “mutual assistance” provision under the provisions of Article 42 par 7 of the Treaty on European Union, which was discussed immediately before. Because it also makes it even more urgent to impose the necessary sanctions against Turkey on behalf of the European Union. Indeed, from the point of view of international and European law, it is more than obvious that to the extent that Greece and Cyprus participate, as they should, in sanctions against Russia by the European Union for the barbaric invasion of Ukraine, a fortiori Turkey cannot go unpunished for almost 50 years of barbaric occupation of one third of the territory of Cyprus. Indeed, when the Republic of Cyprus is a full member of the European Union and its hard core, the Eurozone.
• And fourthly, justice. Justice, as a fundamental legal general principle, has its roots – starting with Aristotelian philosophy – in ancient Greece and, subsequently, in ancient Rome. But according to the Christian Doctrine, “Justice” transcends, as already explained, the normative “deon”. And this turns into everyday behavior that a person must comply with in addition to the institutional obligations imposed on him by the current legislation. Indeed, the provisions of the justice of Christian doctrine, which developed in the field of Byzantine culture mainly through the teachings of the great Fathers of the Church, left their indelible “imprint” on the value system of European culture. This can be easily inferred from the “components” of humanism, solidarity and the world of European culture on the basis of what has already been elucidated. Because, as it is easy to understand, the principle and value of Justice are possible only in the conditions of Humanism, Solidarity and Peace in relations between members of each social group.

“Let these thoughts and positions become for us a reliable guide to our personal spiritual uplift and to a better society, also based on the Christian Messages of Love, Humanism, Solidarity and Justice. Particularly social justice, which is a solid pillar on which, especially in today’s critical times, when our country and our people are still in deep economic and social crisis, we can and must maintain the building of social cohesion. And so, let us move into the future, fully fulfilling our own national duty, which is, first of all, to protect the history and perspective of our people and our nation and to ensure the future that the next generations deserve. We Greeks, I repeat for the hundredth time, must know that we are not only the descendants of the Great Ancestors. On the contrary, based on this heritage, we must add our own creation to our National Building. Our guide should be, that is, Plato’s saying in Menexenus: “Andri iomeno, that he is, or is worth nothing, or does not honor himself by himself, but by the glory of his ancestors.” And even this, in conclusion: The Seventh Memorial of St. Cosmas of Aetolos reminds us that we must fulfill this Sacred National Duty in unbreakable unity, reflecting on the great cost of discord and division both in the distant and recent past. cost even to the detriment of our national core,” concluded Mr. Pavlopoulos.